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Rankin

Another landmark hotel showcases area heritage in the seat of Upton County. Rancher Ira Yates became an overnight millionaire when oil blew in on his ranch in 1926. Within months, he built one of the egion’s first fireproof hotels, the Yates Hotel, near the railroad depot. The original wicker furniture, phone booth and ceiling fan grace the hotel lobby, now home of the Rankin Museum. Ten upstairs guest rooms maintain 1920s fl air, with steam-fired radiators, louvered doors and shared bathrooms. Some rooms still post Prohibition-era liquor regulations. Diverse exhibits recapture the turn of the 20th century. Unusual artifacts include elegant period clothing, a cowboy’s metal bacon box and license plates from the 1920s.